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Abstract

Spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) methods extend traditional capture-recapture methods for estimating population density by using information contained in the location of traps. The The central feature of the improvement is estimation from the locations of traps at which animals were and were not captured to estimate of the distance over which animals are susceptible to capture. We show that standard SECR models are a special case of a more general class of model in which animal detection is not certain, but some information is available about the location of detected animals. The model class accommodates a range of spatial data types and includes as a special case mark-recapture distance sampling, where distances to detected animals are recorded by multiple observers. Other examples of additional information that can be included are bearing to detected animals, strength of acoustic signals received from detected animals, and time of arrival of acoustic signals at detectors. Errors in variables are easily incorporated. We illustrate the versatility of the model and method through a number of applications, in each case using real and simulated data, and comparing our results with those from previous studies where these are available.

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Funding: Part-funded by Fundacao Nacional para a Cienca e Technologia, Portugal (FCT) under the project PEst OE/MAT/UI0006/2011 (Marques) and the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EP/I000917/1